Start of a Journey

Sana had trouble concentrating the week following her talk with Senior Brother Imalia. Often, when she tried to meditate, she would think about the things her Senior Brother talked about. Her parents could only shake their heads and try to calm her down.

The only thing forcing her to meditate anyway was her journey the week after the meeting.

In the morning, the day of the journey, Sana was sitting cross-legged on her bed, meditating. She breathed in the Primal Qi and imagined it becoming sharp and pointy, like the tip of a sword. Then she willed this sharp Primal Qi to pierce her bones and spread out inside them. Slowly, about ten percent of the Primal Qi in her body became sharper, and half of that started charging at her bones.

From the Martial Student stage onward, the passive way of nourishing the body with Primal Qi doesn't work any more. Instead you have to force the Primal Qi to behave in the way you want. To subordinate it to your own will. The more you get used to the feeling of commanding the Primal Qi in your body, the easier it becomes.

Eventually, she will be able to control all the Primal Qi in her body completely. Her parents said that she'll even be able to control the Qi that she expelled from her body.

Sana felt a prickling sensation in her bones followed by a cool, comfortable sensation that slowly diffused in her whole body. After the sensation completely disappeared she started the whole process over again.

A few cycles later she stopped and opened her eyes. She shook out her limbs before taking a bath and putting on her clothes, prepared especially for the journey.

She picked up her sword, specially made to her measurements, and walked to her parent's courtyard.

The sword was commissioned by her mother and she had been training with it for two weeks now. It was made out of a special kind of metal from across the Boiling Ocean that can take in Primal Qi especially well. It was almost as tall as herself, going from the top of her head to just below her knees. A normal person would be completely unable to wield it. Only a Martial Student, capable of reinforcing their muscles beyond what a normal warrior could do, would be able to swing it.

She put the sword into a specifically designed holder on her back which would release the sword if she tugged it in a certain direction.

When she arrived at the courtyard she saw her mother putting her spear into a similar holder on her back. Her mother was wearing the same outfit as Sana, a rather simple combination of cotton undershirt, and pants and vest made out of spirit beast leather. The leather was thick enough to give simple protection but not too thick to impact movement. Spirit beast leather, like the metal her sword was made of, could absorb more Primal Qi than normal materials, making it an excellent choice for armor.

Mother and daughter then went outside the estate and walked in the direction of the eastern gate. During their walk Aria touched both pieces of leather and the sword on Sana to infuse them with Primal Qi. Sana herself couldn't do that yet, only a Martial Squire could control the Primal Qi they exhaled and enhance external objects.

Of course even Martial Knights wouldn't be able to enhance objects with a single touch and keep the enhancement on constantly, but her mother could do so easily as long as she wouldn't need to face an opponent on the level of a Martial King.

A caravan of fifteen wagons was waiting at the inner gate, ready to depart. Next to the drivers and the merchants there were two Martial Students in metal armor per wagon in addition to five Martial Squires and one of the rare Martial Knights as leader of the caravan.

When the warriors saw her mother walking toward them, they were startled and quickly bowed. They stopped in front of the caravan leader who grimaced upon seeing her but quickly smoothed his expression before addressing her mother respectfully, "Lady Aria, Lady Sana, we are honored and grateful for your presence."

Her mother simply waved him off, "It's no bother. This is simply to get my daughter used to traveling long distances in the wilderness."

Her mother and the caravan leader chatted for a bit longer before he motioned for the other warriors to assemble before them. "Well, I said there was a surprise waiting for this trip. Lady Aria and Lady Sana will be joining us on this journey to and from Blackwood City," he announced in a jovial tone.

"That doesn't mean any of you can slack off," he continued, narrowing his eyes, "Lady Aria will mostly stay at Lady Sana's side. Still, in an emergency that means we have the ultimate trump card. Again, I thank you in the name of everyone here for your help, Lady Aria," he ended with a bow.

After coordinating they set out, the caravan leader in the front, Sana and her mother in the back and the other warriors interspaced with the wagons.

When they passed the inner gate on the way to the outer gate, Sana couldn't help but clench her fists in nervous tension. She was startled by a hand being laid on her shoulder. She turned to her mother who smiled calmly down at her, "Don't worry, I'm always gonna be right here, by your side."

They made their way through the farmlands, marching a few hours until they reached the outer wall and the outer gate leading outside the influence of Tekiel City.

The wall itself was smaller than the inner wall but it stretched farther than she could see to the left and right. Her father was unfortunately busy and had bid them farewell the day before. The outer gate was opened for them and they were let through without any fuss. After they were through, Sana watched the gate shut behind her thinking of the days ahead.